Harvester.



S. E. MGPHBRSON.

HABVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.13,1913.

1,1 14,900. Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

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S. B. MOPHERSON.

HARVES'IER.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 1a. 1913.

1,1 14,900. Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

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APPLICATION FILED 831 1213. 1913.

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SAMUEL E. MCPHERSON, 0F CHEROKEE, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 HANBY L. YOUNG, OF CHEROKEE, OKLAHOMA.

HARVESTER.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. MoITnpn- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cherokee, inthe county of Alfalfa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in flarvesters, of which the followin is a spec1fication, reference being had to t 1e accompany ing drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in harvesters and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use to head stalks of Kafir corn, milo maize and the like, and the invention has for an object to provide a device of this general character capable of operation at one time with a plurality of rows.

The invention also has for an object to provide a novel and improved cutting mechanism which may be applied with convenience to the various types of headers, particularly wheat headers, and whereby the cutting mechanism is capable of vertlcal adjustment relatively to the platform of the header in order to compensate for stalks of varying heights Furthermore, it an object of the invent on to provide a novel and improved conveying mechanism whereby the cut stalks and their grain are effectually prevented from falling upon the ground during their transit to the barges.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expenslve and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that the invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a harvester constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, a part of the conveying mechanism being omitted; Fig. 2

is a view in front elevation of the device, as

disclosed in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view in top plan of the device, as hereln set forth.

As set forth in the accompanying draw Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. September 13, 1913.

Patented Oct. 27,1914. Serial No. 789,666.

ings, 1 denotes portions of a header body of any ordinary or preferred construction, it being understood at this time that such header construction forms no particular part of my present invention other than to proyide or afford a supporting means for my improved harvester or grain stalk cutting machine. p

2 indicates the main supporting shaft or axle for the body 1 and on which are mountgdgin the usual way the traction wheels 4 denotes the horizontally disposed plat form, generally employed in headers and operated in the usual manner, while 5 denotes the elevator whereby the cut stalks and their grain are readily and conveniently deposited in the barges as is well known. This platform 4; and elevator 5 constitutes the conveying mechanism and may be of any desired construction but in order to reduce to a minimum the dropping upon the ground of the stalks or their grain, I provide such platform and elevator with the side boards 6-6 and have the lower end portion 7 of the elevator extending below and underneath the platform 4: whereby it will be readily understood that the stalks and their grain will be deposited by the platform 4 directly upon the elevator 5 and thus avoiding a great disadvantage possessed by the conveying mechanisms generally employed in devices of this character, in the cutting of stalks of Kafir corn, milo maize and the like.

In their growth, the heights of the various heads of the stalks of Kafir corn, milo maize and the like vary to a considerable extent and in order that such heads may be cut irrespective of their height forms a particular feature of my present invention and as herein set forth, I disclose a cutting mechanism which is capable of quick and convenient vertical adjustment as the occasion may require without the necessity of stopping or otherwise interfering with the travel of the machine. As set forth in the accompanying drawings, I accomplish this purpose by extending across and in advance of the forward face of the machine the elongated rectangular frame 8 of a predetermined length and herein shown as of a length whereby four rows may be operated upon at one time. I do not wish, however, to be limited to any particular number of such Lip! rows as it is thought to be obvious that this arrangement may be changed at will and as the circumstances dictate. The frame 8 has its end posts 9 pivotally engaged adjacent their opposite ends by the levers 10-10 which in turn have their opposite ends in pivotal engagement with the uprights or vertical posts 11. suitably secured to the header body 1. The points of attachment and the relative sizes of the levers 10-10 are such as to cause any movement of the frame 8 to be in the nature of a parallelogram, whereby it will be readily observed that irrespective of'the extent of its vertical adjustment the frame 8 will at all times occupy a plane parallel with the plane of the posts or uprights 11 for purposes which will be hereinafter set forth. Through the lower longitudinal bar 12 of the frame 8 are secured forwardly directed guide members 14 of the usual construction adapted to engage and direct the stalks to be headed into contact with the cutting edges of the knives 15 also secured to the lower horizontal bar 12 of the frame 8.

In order to assure proper action of the knives 15 upon the stalks as the apparatus is advanced, T employ adjacent each of such knives 15 the cutting reels 16 provided with the peripheral projections or fingers 17 adapted upon the rotation of the reels 1G to contact with the stalks and throw the same against the knives. The cut stalks are toppled back and down with the forward advance of the header upon the platform 4 positioned beneath the frame 8. As has been hereinbefore stated, the platform 4: advances the cut stalks to the elevator 5 where upon they are conveyed to the usual barges.

lVhile any means may be employed for causing the rotation of the reels 16, I prefer to suitably afiix each of such reels to a vertical shaft 18 suitably mounted in the lower horizontal bar 12 of the frame 8 and the upper horizontal bar 19 thereof. The up per portion of such shaft 18 projects above the uppermost horizontal bar 19 and to such projected portion is affixed a beveled pinion 20 adapted to mesh. with a suitable beveled pinion 21 aflixed to the horizontally disposed shaft 22 suitably mounted in the bearings 23 projecting upwardly from the uppermost horizontal bar 19. One end of the shaft 22 is also projected and to this projected portion is ai'lixed the sprocln-t 2% adapted to be engaged by the chain 25 leading to and passing around a sprocket 26 secured to one of the wheels 3, whereby it will be readily observed that upon movement being imparted to the body 1, proper rotation will be imparted to the reels 16.

The position of the frame 8 and more particularly the knives 15 carried thereby, relatively to the platform l is determined by a flexible connection 27 secured, as at 28,

to the upper longitudinal bar 19 at a point substantially central of its length and extending up and over a suitably supported pulley 29 to a Windlass 30 suitably mounted upon the body 1 adjacent the rear thereof.

By proper manipulation of the operating crank 31 of the Windlass, it is thought to be clearly apparent that the frame 8 may be elevated with convenience and substantially instantaneous without interfering in any way with the advance or movement of the apparatus. It is also thought to be selfevident that the downward movement of the frame 8 and its intimate parts is accomplished by gravity.

In order to catch all cut corn heads that would be struck so hard by the force of the impact of the finger 17 and the natural advance of the machine as to be thrown upon the platform in its forward advance, the screen 32 is provided such screen being formed of any preferable material but disclosed in the drawings as formed of a wire mesh. This screen 32 extends entirely across the front of the header and is secured to the post 11 and is of a width to extend from the upper edge of the side board 6 to a point in close proximity to the chain 25.

From the foregoing description of my improvement, it'is thought to be obvious that a harvester constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be employed with stalks of vKafir corn, milo maize and the like of various heights and it will also be obvious that my improved harvester is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit of the invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

Having thus fully described my invention what T desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a body and its supporting wheels, of a platform carried by and projecting forwardly of the body, posts projecting upwardly from the body in close proximity to the rear of the platform, a frame adjustably supported by the posts positioned above and extended across the platform, knives fixed to the forward portion of the frame, reels rotatably supported by such frame in close proximity to the knives, guiding means carried by the frame and coacting with the knives, means for rotating the reels, and means for imparting adjusting movement to the frame.

2. The combination with a body and its supporting wheels, of a platform carried by and projecting forwardly of the body, posts projecting upwardly from the body in close proximity to the rear of the platform, a frame adjustably supported b the posts positioned above and extende across the platform, knives fixed to the forward por tion of the frame, reels rotatably supported by such frame in close proximity to the knives, guiding means carried by the frame and coacting with the knives, means for rotating the reels, means for imparting adjusting movement to the frame, and a screen operatively connected to the uprights above the platform.

3. The combination with a body and its supporting wheels, of a platform carried by and projecting forwardly of the body, posts projecting upwardly from the body in close proximity to the rear of the platform, a frame adjustably supported by the posts 1p sitioned above and extended across the p atform, knives fixed to the forward portion of the frame, reels rotatablysup orted by such frame in close proximity to t e knives, operative connections between the supporting Wheels of the body and the cutters for rotating the same, and guiding means for certain of such connections carried by one of the posts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL E. MoPI-IERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

